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  • PIN Theft Prevention: How Criminals Track Phone Motion & How to Protect Yourself
    Criminals can use a technique known as "shoulder surfing" to steal your PIN by tracking the motion of your phone. Here's how it works:

    When you enter your PIN on a mobile phone, the phone's accelerometer senses the motion of your hand as you press each button. This motion data can be recorded and used to recreate the sequence of buttons you pressed.

    To do this, the criminal would need to have a clear view of your phone while you're entering your PIN. They may position themselves behind you in line at an ATM or cash register, or they may use a hidden camera to record your hand movements.

    Once the criminal has recorded the motion data, they can use a computer program to analyze it and extract the sequence of buttons you pressed. This information can then be used to clone your ATM card or debit card and make fraudulent purchases.

    To protect yourself from this type of theft, be aware of your surroundings when you enter your PIN, try to block the view of your phone with your hand or body, and be cautious of people who may be standing too close to you. You should also consider using a PIN that is not easily guessable, such as a random series of numbers or letters.

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